February Guests and Topics

February 28, 2006 Guest: Susan Mustafa, Sue Israel Topic: Authors Susan Mustafa and Sue Israel previewed their book "I've Been Watching You" about the reign of terror of south Louisiana serial killer Derrick Todd Lee. February 27, 2006 Guest: John Miller, Jehad Mahmoud Topic: Developer John Miller advocated the establishment of an airline with New Orleans as its hub to enhance economic development in south Louisiana; Local Islamic leader Jehad Mahmoud discussed national and international issues involving Muslims in Iraq and in other countries. February 23, 2006 Guest: Jennifer Allen, Ivan Eland, Sally Stewart, Chuck Larsen Topic: Jennifer Allen of Border Action Network discussed conflicts resulting from eleven million illegal workers in the United States; Middle East analyst Ivan Eland and former USA Today Reporter Sally Stewart assessed the political fallout of a decision by the Bush Administration to allow a United Arab Emirates firm operate at six U.S. ports. February 22, 2006 Guest: Tim Muffitt, Lee Feinswog Topic: Baton Rouge Symphony Conductor Tim Muffitt recapped a Valentine's Night performance from Van Cliburn and previewed upcoming symphony events; Sports journalist Lee Feinswog unveiled "Hoop Daddy," his book about the bond between fathers and sons and the sport of basketball. February 21, 2006 Guest: Farai Chedeya Topic: NPR personality Farai Chedeya provided analysis of the damage from Hurricane Katrina as he surveyed New Orleans. February 20, 2006 Guest: John Kennedy Topic: Louisiana Treasurer John Kennedy analyzed the two-week special session, stating that the session fell short of many goals outlined by Gov. Blanco February 16, 2006 Guest: Jan McCurdy Topic: Jan McCurdy remembered her son, Lance Corporal Ryan McCurdy, a Marine from Baton Rouge killed six weeks ago in Iraq. Jan McCurdy voiced support for the war. February 15, 2006 Guest: Bill Cassidy, Barry Erwin, Jim Brandt Topic: Barry Erwin of the Council for a Better Louisiana and Jim Brandt of the Public Affairs Research Council analyzed the special session of the Louisiana Legislature; Dr. Bill Cassidy revealed his reasons for pursuing a seat in the state Senate. February 14, 2006 Guest: Fred Dent, Leonard Sax, Marketa Gautreau, Adren Wilson Topic: Marketa Gautreau and Adren Wilson from the Department of Social Services assessed the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on poverty in Louisiana; Former Banking Commissioner Fred Dent suggested a central bank to handle federal transactions involving hurricane assistance to the state; Dr. Leonard Sax recommended ways to increase academic performance by boys in the United States. February 13, 2006 Guest: Cindy Sheehan, Ann Wright Topic: Iraqi war protestor Cindy Sheehan and Colonel Anne Wright expressed opposition to U.S. foreign policy. February 9, 2006 Guest: John Fels, Eddy Allman (guest host) Topic: Guest host Eddy Allman interviewed veteran Baton Rouge businessman Jon Fels about his remarkable life. February 8, 2006 Guest: Richard Reeves, John Maginnis Topic: Columnist Richard Reeves analyzed the legacy of Ronald Reagan and previewed his biography about the 40th president; Louisiana political analyst John Maginnis examined the start of a special session related to hurricane issues. February 7, 2006 Guest: Fred Newman, Denise McCourt Topic: Fred Newman of PBS and Prairie Home Companion displayed his amazing talent for "mouth sounds;" Denise McCourt of the American Petroleum Institute defended high profits of U.S. oil companies. February 6, 2006 Guest: Robert Grayson, Annette Seng, Abram McGull Topic: Robert Grayson of the LSU School of Music and LSU Opera patron Annette Seng discussed opera in Baton Rouge; Local federal prosecutor Abram McGull recapped his career as a photo-journalist, mayor, lawyer and Navy Lietenant Commander. February 2, 2006 Guest: Foster Campbell, Jim Porter, Ted DeMuro Topic: Congressmen Bobby Jindal and Charles Melancon lamented President Bush's State of the Union address, which featured only 56 seconds devoted to Hurricane Katrina's devastation; Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee says his parish is 95 percent back to normal five months post-Katrina. February 1, 2006 Guest: Bobby Jindal, Charles Melancon, Harry Lee Topic: Congressmen Bobby Jindal and Charles Melancon lamented President Bush's State of the Union address, which featured only 56 seconds devoted to Hurricane Katrina's devastation; Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee says his parish is 95 percent back to normal five months post-Katrina.

January Guests and Topics

January 31, 2006 Guest: Chris Owens, George Kennedy Topic: Famed Bourbon Street entertainer Chris Owens talked of her half century of success in the French Quarter as a singer and dancer; Political consultant George Kennedy assessed the changed political landscape in Louisiana. January 30, 2006 Guest: Mike Mullane, Charles Smith, Chris Smither Topic: Former astronaut Mike Mullane recalled the Challenger explosion twenty years after the shuttle accident claimed the lives of seven astronauts. Mullane was on three shuttle missions; University of Arizona history professor Charles Smith outlined tensions in the Middle East in the aftermath of Palestinian election victories by Hamas; musician Chris Smither previewed his Thursday appearance at the Manship Threatre. January 26, 2006 Guest: Carey Messina, Joe Cook, William Lewis Topic: Attorney Carey Messina detailed tax law changes for 2006; Joe Cook of the Louisiana ACLU objected to domestic spying policy by the Bush Adminstration; William Lewis talked of his odyssey as a homeless person for three years to an educator in Shreveport assisting Hurricane Katrina evacuees. January 25, 2006 Guest: Andrei Codrescu Topic: Author and NPR commentator Andrei Codrescu observed changes in New Orleans, his adopted hometown, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Codrescu says the killer storm has bridged the gap between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. January 24, 2006 Guest: Bob Neese, Sandy Rosenthal, Gail Dignam Topic: Bob Neese of Louisiana Public Broadcasting noted the eleventh year of the Young Heroes Program; Sandy Rosenthal of Levees.Org blamed the Army Corps of Engineers for flood protection failures during Hurricane Katrina; Gail Dignam, director of the governor's program on abstinence, said Louisiana is ninth in the rate of teenage pregnancies and in the top five nationally for sexually transmitted diseases. January 23, 2006 Guest: Roy Fletcher Topic: Political consultant Roy Fletcher lamented the performance of public officials in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, predicting many politicians will lose their jobs as a result of the Katrina catastrophe. January 19, 2006 Guest: Brad Gair, John Wirt Topic: Brad Gair, director of long-term recovery for FEMA, reviewed recovery efforts in Louisiana; John Wirt, entertainment writer for the Baton Rouge Advocate, reviewed music and movies, rating Goodnight and Good Luck the best film of 2005. January 18, 2006 Guest: Roger Wilson, Vincent Bruno, Jeannie Kahnke Topic: Actor and New Orleans native Roger Wilson, star in "Porky's," talked about his return to his home city and plans to produce a documentary about Hurricane Katrina; Veteran Louisiana politico Vincent Bruno thanked Wilson for raising funds to secure $2 million in clothes for victims of the storm; Jeannie Kahnke of the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisiana talked about the massive facility which opened two months ago as a tribute to the three-time heavyweight champion. January 17, 2006 Guest: Marie Smith, Dave Treen Topic: Marie Smith, national AARP president, analyzed changes in the Medicare system; former Gov. David Treen assessed the impact of Hurricane Katrina on Louisiana. January 16, 2006 Guest: Bob Mann Topic: Gov. Blanco's communications director Bob Mann recapped the governor's trip to the Netherlands last week as a state delegation inspected flood control measures by the Dutch; Mann, a Pulitzer Prize nominee for The Walls of Jericho, also discussed the legacy of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King a day after the 77 anniversary of King's birth. January 12, 2006 Guest: Brendan O'Connor, Chris Fink, Nick Yphantitis, David Berman l Topic: Chris Fink and Brendan O'Connor discussed a film studio under construction in Baton Rouge at the former headquarters for Master P; Dr. Nick discussed his diet plan; Rev. David Berman advocated the confirmation of Judge Sam Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court. January 11, 2006 Guest: Kim Gandy, Jonathan Alterl Topic: National Organization for Women President Kim Gandy revisited her formative years in Louisiana and criticized the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court; Jonathan Alter of Newsweek discussed the legacy of Martin Luther King and his meeting with the civil rights leader when Alter was an eight-year-old lad in Chicago. January 10, 2006 Guest: Michael Medved, Max Blumenthal Topic: Talk show host and film critic Michael Medved discussed Hurricane Katrina's impact on New Orleans and the fate of Judge Samuel Alito's nomination to the United States Supreme Court; Max Blumenthal of the Nation magazine predicted an electoral backlash against GOP policies in 2006. January 9, 2006 Guest: Moffitt Aycock, Ed Pratt, Warren Trichei Topic: Moffitt Aycock of the Community Fund for the Arts previewed Friday's sixth annual Lollapalooza celebration in downtown Baton Rouge; Ed Pratt of the Department of Labor noted that Louisiana's unemployment rate has more than doubled to 12.4 percent since Hurricane Katrina; Representative Warren Triche of Thibodaux lamented the performance of public officials in the aftermath of Katrina. January 5, 2006 Guest: Gene Venanzi Topic: Designer Gene Venanzi discussed his four years in the men's fashion business, including work as the designer for actors Michael Douglas and Al Pacino; Sportwriters Glenn Guilbeau and Matt Deville recapped the 41-38 victory by Texas over USC in the BCS Championship Game and LSU's 40-3 pounding of Miami in the Peach Bowl. January 4, 2006 Guest: Ron Christie, Martina Holiday Topic: Former Bush advisor Ron Christie discussed his book "Black in the White House," and Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire contestant Martina Holiday updated her life and career six years after the first reality based television program. January 3, 2006 Guest: Karen Profita, Bernie Pinsonat, Leigh Harris Topic: Karen Profita of the Children's Miracle Network relayed information about the group's annual radiothon, which raised 44 million dollars last year; Pollster Bernie Pinsonat discussed falling poll numbers for Gov. Blanco; Leigh Harris of Keep Louisiana Beautiful encouraged listeners not to litter in 2006. January 2, 2006 Guest: Arthur Hardy, Kevin Courrier Topic: Mardi Gras Guide publisher Arthur Hardy expressed his satisfaction that Mardi Gras will be celebrated in New Orleans despite Hurricane Katrina; Author Kevin Courrier discussed his latest biography featuring music legend Randy Newman.